21

21 is a non-fiction book based on the lives of twenty-one women who have dared to bare their souls without shame. Their story range from a sixteen-year-old refugee girl fighting for her life; a young teenaged girl fighting off her stepfather, to a four-year-old girl who suffered from having her body scalded by boiling hot chocolate and in adulthood, having her heart scalded and scarred by fear and shame. One was kidnapped and some went willingly into their captivity.

Although it is about the story of twenty-one women, their stories cross gender, religion, race, culture, and invade all of our psychological makeup. Yes, undoubtedly, I believe you will find yourself somewhere within the pages. Maybe it's a challenge to let go of a weight you have carried for a long time, or maybe a weight you need to pick up to slow you down. If you find the shoe doesn't fit, try it on your neighbor, a friend, a loved one, maybe a parent. But assuredly, as you find the heartaches, you will also find the treasure chest.

Twenty-one relatable women, twenty-one stories, and twenty-one miracles! What was it that they had in common that changed the narrative of their lives, look inside and you will find out and you will be glad you did!

DOROTHY MARIE RIVERS-LOVE was born in the hills of Marvell, Arkansas. She lived in a two-room shack on what she calls a glorified plantation. When she should have been in school at ten years old, she had to chop and pick cotton, putting in a hard day's work. Poverty, racism, even border-line abuse could not sway her from believing there was something beautiful yet to be discovered on the other side of those hills.
She spent many hours lying on her back, staring into space, watching airplanes fly over, imagining where could they possibly be going since she had never left her small country town. She enjoyed writing at a young age and writing poetry was her favorite pastime. Dorothy finally left the hills of Arkansas and traveled to Sacramento, California when she was fifteen.
Her dreams materialized. She joined the military and served in uniform for thirty-one years. Some of her duties included Radio Operator, Military Police, Equal Opportunity Advisor and Diversity Coordinator. She received numerous awards and decorations.
During her military service, she graduated from law school, obtaining her Juris Doctor degree. She retired in 2013 as a Master Sergeant. Her new career is loving God and loving others. You will find her supporting women in becoming victorious and wrapping her arms around the youth. Dorothy considers this book a labor of love and a gift from God to her and the world.